Inflation in Rawalpindi has spiralled out of control, and essential food items like broiler chicken, beef, and mutton are beyond the reach of the working class.
No market in the city appears to be following the official price list, forcing citizens to pay inflated prices.
Despite a week having passed since Eidul Fitr, prices of poultry, beef, and mutton in Rawalpindi and Islamabad have not come down.
The government rate for live broiler chicken is Rs412 per kilogramme, but it is being sold in the open market for Rs540 to Rs580 per kilogramme.
Broiler meat is being sold at Rs880 to Rs900 per kilogramme.
While the government has only fixed the price of live chickennot its meatthose rates too are not being implemented anywhere.
Similarly, beef is officially priced at Rs800 per kilogramme but is selling for Rs1,400 to Rs1,500 in urban areas, and up to Rs1,600 in surrounding localities.
The official rate for mutton is Rs1,600 per kilogramme, yet it is being sold for Rs2,200 to Rs2,300 in the open market.
Milk is selling for Rs220 per litre, and yoghurt for Rs240.
Among vegetables, potatoes are priced at Rs70 per kilogramme, onions Rs80, tomatoes Rs150, peas Rs200, okra Rs400, lemons Rs400, cauliflower Rs80, cucumbers Rs50, taro root Rs200, and green chillies Rs200.
Among fruits, apples are being sold for Rs300 to Rs400 per kilogramme, bananas for Rs250 to Rs300 per dozen, sweet oranges and malta for Rs600 per dozen, watermelon at Rs100 per kilogramme, pomegranates at Rs400, grapes between Rs350 and Rs500, melons at Rs150 to Rs200, strawberries for Rs200, and cantaloupes at Rs150 per kilogramme.
Residents expressed deep concern over the surging prices.
They stated that while the government issues official price lists, commodities are not available at those rates.
According to Zahid Abbas Abbasi, a representative of the Poultry Retailers Association, it is a welcome step by the Punjab chief minister to fix prices for live chicken across the province.
However, he stressed that the government must also regulate rates at the wholesale market level.
Zahid Abbas Abbasi added that while the step to regulate live chicken prices is appreciated, the government should lower farm and wholesale market rates as well, since it is impossible to sell expensive poultry at Rs412 per kilogramme.
The local Poultry Association states that the high demand for chicken in the market isn't being met with sufficient supply.
Since the night before Eid, chicken demand has tripled across hotels, motels, barbecue shops, dhaba, and food streets, but the supply has not increased to meet this demand.
According to Khurshid Abbasi, the vice president of the Poultry Association, the prices of chicken will not decrease until the supply increases. The cost of chicken feed, medicines, and other essentials has risen by up to 300%, he adds.
The market committee sets the official price of chicken at Rs412 per kg but remains silent, while price control magistrates seem completely powerless in controlling the prices.
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